In this episode, Sarah chats with Senior Disability Advisors Amy and Guy about how universities can best support accessibility for Neurodivergent students. They share really practical and useful tips that will help both neurodivergent and neurotypical students get on top of their study. (Skip to 17 minutes if you’re only interested in the resources and study hacks).

QUT Students with a disability, injury or health condition can access support and information here: Studying with a disability, injury or health condition - Student - QUT Portal

If you need urgent mental health support, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or the QLD Health Mental Health Line on 13MH CALL. If you or others are in immediate danger of harm or in the case of a mental health emergency, always call 000.

Counselling support is available to current QUT students at both Garden’s Point and Kelvin Grove Campuses. Visit  Counselling and psychology - Student - QUT Portal for details, or call (07) 3138 2019.

Resources mentioned:

What-is-neurodiversity.pdf

Genio Notes - Student - QUT Portal

Study support and workshops - Student - QUT Portal

Student success coaching - Student - QUT Portal

Forest - Stay focused, be present

Home - Goblin Tools

Assignment calculator - Student - QUT Portal

Google NotebookLM | AI Research Tool & Thinking Partner – use with caution, always fact check AI content

Eisenhower Matrix.pdf

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Sarah Winkleman is a Clinical Psychologist and counsellor at QUT Student Services. Melanie Rolfe is a current PhD student at QUT a well as a psycho-social researcher in paediatric health.

In this episode, Sarah and Mel chat with QUT chaplain Joseph to answer common questions about the chaplaincy services available, and the importance of cultural identity, spirituality, and community for our wellbeing.

Information about the Chaplaincy service and events can be found here: Spiritual wellbeing - Student - QUT Portal

CHAT program website: Chat Project | Cultural Hearing Asking Telling

SolveSquad: https://www.solvesquad.co/

If you need urgent mental health support, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or the QLD Health Mental Health Line on 13MH CALL. If you or others are in immediate danger of harm or in the case of a mental health emergency, always call 000.

Counselling support is available to current QUT students at both Garden’s Point and Kelvin Grove Campuses. Visit  Counselling and psychology - Student - QUT Portal for details, or call (07) 3138 2019.

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Sarah Winkleman is a Clinical Psychologist and counsellor at QUT Student Services. Melanie Rolfe is a current PhD student at QUT a well as a psycho-social researcher in paediatric health.

In this episode, Sarah and Mel chat with social worker Allie about the impact of financial stress on students, and share tips and resources to get you started on budgeting, saving, and starting good financial habits.

The information presented here is not financial advice. If you need individualised financial advice please speak with a financial advisor or financial counsellor - Find a Financial Counsellor - National Debt Helpline

Other Resources:

Money Smart - https://moneysmart.gov.au/budgeting/budget-planner 

HiQ (QUT Students only) includes information on Equity Scholarships and Emergency an d WIL Bursaries - https://qutvirtual4.qut.edu.au/group/student/health-and-wellbeing/financial-help-and-support/financ… 

 Centrelink - https://www.centrelink.gov.au/apps/clkonline_cof/payment-service-finder/payments-finder 

 Gambling help - https://www.gamblinghelponline.org.au/  -https://gamblinghelpqld.org.au/ 

Keep an eye out on QUT Guild for information on the latest financial relief initiatives.

No Interest Loans - https://goodshep.org.au/services/nils/

Negotiate payment terms - National Debt Helpline

Understanding Indexation and why it’s important -  Loan increases and indexation - Study Assist, Australian Government

 How to budget effectively Podcast playlist: How to Budget Effectively! - playlist by She's On The Money | Spotify

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In this episode, Sarah interviews two ADF veterans, Sam and Trent, about their experiences transitioning from service to study at QUT. Sam and Trent share their tips for making the process as smooth as possible, and share the support services they have found helpful on the journey.

Links:

QUT - Veterans Academic Success Program (VASP)

 Health and wellbeing - Student - QUT Portal

Academic help and workshops - Student - QUT Portal

QUT Veterans and Families Club on Facebook: QUT Student Veterans and Families Club | Brisbane QLD | Facebook

And Instagram: QUT Veterans & Families Club (@qutveteransfamiliesclub) • Instagram photos and videos

Counselling support is available to current QUT students at both Garden’s Point and Kelvin Grove Campuses. Visit  Counselling and psychology - Student - QUT Portal for details, or call (07) 3138 2019.

This podcast touches on topics relating to mental health and is for educational purposes only. It does not replace the valuable experience of personalised counselling support. If you need urgent help, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14. If you or others are in immediate danger of harm or in the case of a mental health emergency, always call 000.

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In this episode, Sarah and Mel chat with Stacey, Allie, Glen and Guy about all the wonderful services available to QUT students, as well sharing our top tips to get the most out of your first semester.

Support is available to current QUT students at both Garden’s Point and Kelvin Grove Campuses. Visit Health and wellbeing - Student - QUT Portal for details, or call (07) 3138 2019.

This podcast touches on topics relating to mental health and is for educational purposes only. It does not replace the valuable experience of personalised counselling support. If you need urgent help, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14. If you or others are in immediate danger of harm or in the case of a mental health emergency, always call 000.

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Welcome to Real Talk, the QUT Student Services Podcast. Each episode, we dive into real-life challenges, share practical coping strategies, and interview experts who offer valuable insights on managing stress, anxiety, and the pressures of academic life. Tune in, take a breath, and let's build a healthier, more resilient university experience together. Sarah Winkleman is a Clinical Psychologist and counsellor at QUT Student Services. Melanie Rolfe is a current PhD student at QUT a well as a psycho-social researcher in paediatric health.

In this episode, Sarah and Mel chat with fellow QUT counsellor and Clinical Psychologist Hui, breaking down the myths and misconceptions about mindfulness and how can be of benefit. Included is a brief mindfulness practice we invite you to participate in if safe to do so.

Links:

• Mindfulness - Student - QUT Portal
• The Free Mindfulness Project - Free Resources
• Insight Timer — #1 Free Meditation App
• Headspace Content | Meditation & Sleep App
• Smiling Mind

Counselling support is available to current QUT students at both Garden’s Point and Kelvin Grove Campuses. Visit Counselling and psychology - Student - QUT Portal for details, or call (07) 3138 2019.

This podcast touches on topics relating to mental health and is for educational purposes only. It does not replace the valuable experience of personalised counselling support. If you need urgent help, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14. If you or others are in immediate danger of harm or in the case of a mental health emergency, always call 000.

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In this episode, Sarah and Mel chat with Carmel Fleming, PhD, from the Queensland Eating Disorder Service. Carmel shares valuable insights into the emotional, psychological, social and physical facets of disordered eating, and how it can progress into a clinical eating disorder. We also unpack some myths around who can experience eating disorders, explore the signs, and offer advice to loved ones and individuals on how to access support. Help and support is available, and recovery is possible.

Links:

For support for yourself or a loved one, call 1800 ED HOPE (1800 33 4673). Or visit the Butterfly Foundation: Support for Eating Disorders and Body Image Issues | Butterfly Foundation National Eating Disorders Collaboration (NEDC) Service locator: Service locator

And information for family and friends: Families and Supports More support for families and carers: Eating Disorders Families Australia - Support for families and carers of those with Eating Disorders - EDFA EDQ: Eating Disorders Queensland - Home Reach Out and Recover: Reach Out and Recover – Intervention resource for eating disorders QUT Eating Disorders Clinic: Eating Disorders Clinic - Student - QUT Portal

QUT Medical Centre: QUT Medical Centre - Home Counselling support is available to current QUT students at both Garden’s Point and Kelvin Grove Campuses. Visit  Counselling and psychology - Student - QUT Portal for details, or call (07) 3138 2019.

This podcast touches on topics relating to mental health and is for educational purposes only. It does not replace the valuable experience of personalised counselling support. If you need urgent help, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14. If you or others are in immediate danger of harm or in the case of a mental health emergency, always call 000.

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Sarah Winkleman is a Clinical Psychologist and counsellor at QUT Student Services.

Melanie Rolfe is a current PhD student at QUT a well as a psycho-social researcher in paediatric health.

Recommendations – Mel recommends the Inside Out films, and Sarah recommends The Imperfects Podcast.

In this episode, Sarah and Mel discuss the importance of a good night’s sleep, the biological processes involved, and share their tips to get a few more Z’s!

Tips:

• Regularity – keep your bedtime consistent where possible

• Unplug from electronics – 30-60minute buffer time

• Try different relaxation techniques

• Get daylight exposure

• Reduce alcohol (sedation) and nicotine (stimulant)

• Reduce caffeine in the afternoon/evening

• Optimize your bedroom – temperature, warm lighting, block out light and noise, invest in quality mattress and pillow.

Hand links:

•  Calm - The #1App for Meditation and Sleep

•  Headspace Content | Meditation & Sleep App

•  Smiling Mind App —Smiling Mind

•  The Best Podcasts for Sleep | Sleep Foundation

Counselling support is available to current QUT students at both Garden’s Point and Kelvin Grove Campuses. Visit  Counselling and psychology - Student - QUT Portal for details, or call (07) 3138 2019.

This podcast touches on topics relating to mental health and is for educational purposes only. It does not replace the valuable experience of personalised counselling support. If you need urgent help, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14. If you or others are in immediate danger of harm or in the case of a mental health emergency, always call 000.

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Sarah Winkleman is a Clinical Psychologist and counsellor at QUT Student Services.

Melanie Rolfe is a current PhD student at QUT a well as a psycho-social researcher in paediatric health.

Recommendations – Mel recommends the Circle of Security as a parenting approach. Sarah recommends visiting your local library, and the Brisbane City Council Library App.

In this episode, Sarah and Mel are joined by Kristi Manger to chat about the decision to return to Uni later in life and how this seems to be a growing trend. They discuss how their approach to study differs as a mature student, the ongoing journey to find the right balance between study and other commitments, and the importance of having support around you.

Counselling support is available to current QUT students at both Garden’s Point and Kelvin Grove Campuses. Visit  Counselling and psychology - Student - QUT Portal for details, or call (07) 3138 2019.

This podcast touches on topics relating to mental health and is for educational purposes only. It does not replace the valuable experience of personalised counselling support. If you need urgent help, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14. If you or others are in immediate danger of harm or in the case of a mental health emergency, always call 000.

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Sarah Winkleman is a Clinical Psychologist and counsellor at QUT Student Services.

Melanie Rolfe is a current PhD student at QUT a well as a psycho-social researcher in paediatric health.

Recommendations – Mel recommends revisiting an old hobby that brought joy (in her case, tap dancing!). Sarah recommends a cozy game for relaxation.

Bonus Book Recommendations: The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, and The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris.

In this episode, Sarah and Mel discuss what vicarious trauma is, and how we can be particularly vulnerable to it early career. They open up about their experiences with vicarious trauma and share their tips on how to overcome it.

Counselling support is available to current QUT students at both Garden’s Point and Kelvin Grove Campuses. Visit  Counselling and psychology - Student - QUT Portal for details, or call (07) 3138 2019.

This podcast touches on topics relating to mental health and is for educational purposes only. It does not replace the valuable experience of personalised counselling support. If you need urgent help, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14. If you or others are in immediate danger of harm or in the case of a mental health emergency, always call 000.

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In this episode, Sarah speaks to PhD student Rayane El Masri about her experiences arriving in Brisbane, cultural differences, coping with homesickness, and all the services on offer to international students at QUT. An informative conversation for both international and local students!

Resources for International Students (links will only work for QUT enrolled students):

International student support

Find a club or project - Student - QUT Portal                         

Spiritual wellbeing - Student - QUT Portal

Counselling support is available to current QUT students at both Garden’s Point and Kelvin Grove Campuses. Visit  Counselling and psychology - Student - QUT Portal for details, or call (07) 3138 2019.

This podcast touches on topics relating to mental health and is for educational purposes only. It does not replace the valuable experience of personalised counselling support. If you need urgent help, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14. If you or others are in immediate danger of harm or in the case of a mental health emergency, always call 000.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah Winkleman is a Clinical Psychologist and counsellor at QUT Student Services.

Melanie Rolfe is a current PhD student at QUT a well as a psycho-social researcher in paediatric health.

Recommendations – Sarah recommends a new hobby, paint by numbers. It’s helped her to challenge ideas about her own creativity and perfectionism, and it keeps her off her phone! Mel recommends habit tracking on the fridge to keep on top of life admin and achieve goals.

In this episode, Sarah and Mel discuss how pervasive social media is in our lives today, which can have both positive and negative consequences. They unpack a few theories as to why we all seem to be addicted to our phones and social media, and whether it’s helpful to call it an

addiction? Sarah and Mel also give some helpful tips on how to have a more balanced approach to social media in our lives.  

Handy links:

· Online safety | eSafety Commissioner

· Screen Zen App -  BestScreen Time App for Android & iPhone – Download Free

· One Sec App -  one sec | stopmindless scrolling – scientifically

This podcast touches on topics relating to mental health and is for educational purposes only. It does not replace the valuable experience of personalised counselling support. If you need urgent help, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14. If you or others are in immediate danger of harm or in the case of a mental health emergency, always call 000.

Counselling support is available to current QUT students at both Garden’s Point and Kelvin Grove Campuses. Visit  Counselling and psychology - Student - QUT Portal for details, or call (07) 3138 2019.

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Sarah Winkleman is a Clinical Psychologist and counsellor at QUT Student Services.

Melanie Rolfe is a current PhD student at QUT a well as a psycho-social researcher in paediatric health.

Recommendations – Mel recommends nature dates with family and friends. Mel also reveals she has done a ted talk on the benefits of nature play! Sarah recommends ‘Untamed’ by Glennon Doyle. Sarah is not a Glennon ‘stan’ but found the messages about freedom and gender fascinating.

In this episode, Sarah and Mel discuss an experience we’re all familiar with, procrastination.  Procrastination is complicated to understand and define. Sarah and Mel share their personal

experiences with procrastination and what has helped them to overcome it. People might procrastinate for all different reasons, and it’s important to understand what your reason is to know how to overcome it. Sarah and Mel talk about some strategies to increase motivation, manage your time, and set achievable goals and rewards.

This podcast touches on topics relating to mental health and is for educational purposes only. It does not replace the valuable experience of personalised counselling support. If you need urgent help, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14. If you or others are in immediate danger of harm or in the case of a mental health emergency, always call 000.

Counselling support is available to current QUT students at both Garden’s Point and Kelvin Grove Campuses. Visit  Counselling and psychology - Student - QUT Portal for details, or call (07) 3138 2019. Further reading:

·        

Procrastination

Why We Procrastinate | Psychology Today

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Sarah Winkleman is a Clinical Psychologist and counsellor at QUT Student Services.

Melanie Rolfe is a current PhD student at QUT as well as a psycho-social researcher in paediatric health.

Recommendations – Mel recommends yoga hammocks for sensory regulation and relaxation. Sarah recommends Netflix series ‘Man on the Inside’ for a heartwarming and uplifting watch.

The number of Australians on ADHD medication surged by almost 300 per cent in ten years, rising to 470,000 people in 2022-2023. (PBS data).

In this episode, Sarah and Mel unpack some of the popular messaging around ADHD online, discuss neurodiversity and the neurodiversity affirming approach. We answer common questions about ADHD – why does everyone seem to have it now? What even is ADHD and how does it differ from ‘normal’ inattention or disorganization? How does it present differently in women and girls? How can we find the right strategies that work for our individual brains?

This podcast touches on topics relating to mental health and is for educational purposes only. It does not replace the valuable experience of personalised counselling support. If you need urgent help, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14. If you or others are in immediate danger of harm or in the case of a mental health emergency, always call 000.

Counselling support is available to current QUT students at both Garden’s Point and Kelvin Grove Campuses. Visit  Counselling and psychology - Student - QUT Portal for details, or call (07) 3138 2019. Further reading:

·        

ADHD diagnoses on the rise as awareness grows | APS

·        

ADHD Symptoms in Women: Misunderstood, Overlooked, Undertreated

·        

Neurodiversity | Psychology Today

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Sarah Winkleman is a Clinical Psychologist and counsellor at QUT Student Services.

Melanie Rolfe is a current PhD student at QUT as well as a psycho-social researcher in paediatric health.

Recommendations – Mel recommends stand-up paddle boarding as a fun new way to explore and get outdoors. Sarah recommends going to the beach and feeling the sun and salt water.

In this episode, Sarah and Mel discuss how to recognise if you may be a perfectionist, the costs and benefits, and how to break the cycle if perfectionism is having a negative impact on your life.

This podcast touches on topics relating to mental health and is for educational purposes only. It does not replace the valuable experience of personalised counselling support. If you need urgent help, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14. If you or others are in immediate danger of harm or in the case of a mental health emergency, always call 000.

Counselling support is available to current QUT students at both Garden’s Point and Kelvin Grove Campuses. Visit  Counselling and psychology - Student - QUT Portal for details, or call (07) 3138 2019. Further reading:

· Perfectionism| Psychology Today

· The destructiveness and public health significance of socially prescribed

perfectionism: A review, analysis, and conceptual extension

· Multidimensional Perfectionism Turns 30: A Review of Known Knowns and Known Unknowns

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